Australia’s Greens elect Shoebridge leader as he targets Labor and One Nation

David Shoebridge has been elected leader of Australia’s Greens, promising to challenge Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party for the progressive vote and to oppose the rising One Nation party. The leadership change follows Larissa Waters’ resignation for health reasons and comes amid internal disagreement over how the party chooses its leaders.

Shoebridge defeated Mehreen Faruqi by seven votes to four in a party-room ballot at a two-day meeting in Sydney. The Greens have a primary vote of about 12 per cent in most polls and hold the balance of power in the upper house; deputy leader Steph Hodgins-May said the party would focus on the gas industry, technology companies and the climate crisis. Faruqi, who declined to seek the deputy role, called for members to vote on future leaders.